Wangari Mutuhi

Pioneered blockchain-based financial inclusion solutions for East African women

Wangari Mutuhi is a Kenyan fintech innovator whose work has revolutionized access to financial services across East Africa through her company BitPesa. Founded in 2012, her platform utilized blockchain technology to create an alternative remittance system that reduced cross-border transaction costs by up to 80%. This breakthrough made financial services accessible to the 70% of unbanked populations in the region.

Her most impactful initiative came in 2021 with the launch of BitPesa Women, a mobile banking app specifically designed for female entrepreneurs. By 2023, this platform had empowered over 500,000 women to open business accounts, process payments, and access microloans through their smartphones. Mutuhi's work directly addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality, having been recognized by Forbes Africa as one of the top 100 women shaping Africa's future.

In 2022, she partnered with the Kenyan government's Digital Economy Blueprint to integrate her payment solutions into public services, enabling citizens to pay for utilities and healthcare digitally for the first time. Her advocacy for financial inclusion extends to her role as UN Women's Global Mentor for Tech Innovation since 2020.